Issues in Licensure

Occupational therapy is regulated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Different states have various types of regulation that range from licensure, the strongest form of regulation, to title protection or trademark law, the weakest from of regulation. The major purpose of regulation is to protect consumers in a state or jurisdiction from unqualified or unscrupulous practitioners.

State laws and regulations significantly affect the practice of occupational therapy. Laws or statutes are enacted by legislators, who are elected public officials. Regulations specifically describe how the intent of the laws will be carried out. These regulations are developed by regulators, who are appointed public officials of various departments in state government. Both kinds of officials make decisions that directly and indirectly affect occupational therapy practitioners.